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A Penn State student studies outdoors on the University Park campus. U.S. News & World Reports' "2014 Best Colleges," released Sept. 10, ranks Penn State as 8th among public national universities and 37th among all national universities.

Image: Patrick Mansell

Penn State rises in 2014 U.S. News 'Best Colleges' rankings

September 10, 2013

Penn State rises in 2014 U.S. News 'Best Colleges' rankings

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State ranks No. 8 among all public national universities in the U.S. News & World Report "2014 Best Colleges Rankings," released today (Sept. 10) -- up five places from last year's results.

In the overall "National Universities" category, which includes both public and private institutions, Penn State has risen to No. 37 overall, up nine places from last year. According to U.S. News' methodology, schools in the "National Universities" category emphasize faculty research and offer a full range of undergraduate majors, plus master's and Ph.D. programs.

"While Penn State’s ranking may have shifted partially based on U.S. News' changes in methodology, our university consistently delivers the highest-quality education to our students and helps prepare them to succeed in their careers and in life beyond the classroom,” said University President Rodney Erickson. “We are proud of our students, faculty, staff and alumni, and their positive impact on the world speaks loudest and best for Penn State."

In the Big Ten, Penn State ranks No. 2 among public nationals, and No. 3 in the overall nationals.

The Smeal College of Business' supply chain management program ranked No. 5 in "Best in the Specialties," with Smeal ranked No. 22 overall in "Best in Undergraduate Business" programs. Additional business programs include production/operations management (15), management (19), marketing (20) and accounting (21).

At Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, the School of Engineering ranked No. 45 among the "Best in Undergraduate Engineering" programs for institutions whose highest degree is a bachelor's or master's.

In addition, Penn State ranked 43rd in a nationwide survey among high school counselors who rated national universities and liberal arts colleges that they felt offered “the best undergraduate education to their students.” Penn State received a score of 4.1 out of a possible 5.

U.S. News & World Report surveys colleges and universities annually and ranks nearly 1,400 of them in different categories according to its methodology. Details of the "2014 Best Colleges" rankings and methodologies are available at http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges online.